Joan Baez, now 83, has opened up about the emotional turmoil of her relationship with Bob Dylan in the 2023 documentary Joan Baez: I Am a Noise. The folk icon, who met Dylan in 1961, described their romance as “totally demoralizing,” particularly after their 1965 breakup during his UK tour. Baez had joined Dylan on the tour, hoping to perform together as they had in the early ‘60s, but he refused to invite her onstage, leaving her feeling humiliated and heartbroken. “I think probably Dylan broke my heart,” she admitted, reflecting on the “shattering” experience of their closeness, shared music, and political ideals unraveling.
Their relationship, which began as a powerful musical and romantic partnership, saw Baez introducing the then-unknown Dylan to wider audiences at events like the 1963 Newport Folk Festival and the March on Washington. But as Dylan’s fame surged, their dynamic shifted. Baez felt “lost in the shuffle” of his success, a sentiment Dylan later acknowledged, expressing regret in a 2015 MusiCares speech for how his career’s “madness” impacted her. Baez also revealed Dylan’s lack of political activism frustrated her, as she wanted him to join her in protests, though she later recognized this expectation was unfair given his focus on songwriting.
The documentary also highlights Baez’s path to healing. Decades after their split, she painted a portrait of a young Dylan, a process that dissolved her lingering resentment. “I put his music on, and I just dissolved into tears. When I was through with the painting, I had no animosity left,” she shared. This led to “total forgiveness,” and she wrote Dylan a letter expressing gratitude for their time together, intentionally leaving no contact details. The pair, who last collaborated in 1984, haven’t spoken since, but Baez now feels only gratitude for the music and moments they shared.
Baez’s reflections also touch on her own growth. She acknowledged her role in their struggles, admitting, “We were stupid, and you can’t blame somebody forever.” Her songs like “Diamonds & Rust” (1975), which Dylan praised in 2009, capture the bittersweet essence of their bond. At 83, Baez has found peace, focusing on her legacy as an artist and activist while cherishing the transformative, if painful, chapter with Dylan.
